Why is Fajr at 4 AM in June but 5:30 AM in December? Why does your prayer app disagree with your mosque by three minutes? This guide explains how Sharjah’s monthly prayer timetable actually works — the astronomy behind it, how times shift through the year, and how to read any timetable with confidence.
How the Monthly Timetable Works
Every mosque in Sharjah displays a printed monthly prayer timetable near the entrance — all five daily prayers (plus sunrise) for each day of the month, down to the minute.
These timetables follow the official UAE prayer calendar published by AWQAF (General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat). The imam’s adhan, your phone apps, and the printed sheet should all agree — within a minute or two.
Each day’s times shift slightly from the day before. In October, for example, Fajr moves about a minute later every 2–3 days while Maghrib moves a minute earlier.
The Full Year at a Glance: Seasonal Ranges
Typical mid-month times for Sharjah through 2026 — to understand the rhythm of the year, not today’s exact times (see our daily prayer timetable for that):
| Month | Fajr | Sunrise | Dhuhr | Asr | Maghrib | Isha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5:30 AM | 6:55 AM | 12:20 PM | 3:20 PM | 5:45 PM | 7:05 PM |
| February | 5:15 AM | 6:35 AM | 12:20 PM | 3:35 PM | 6:05 PM | 7:20 PM |
| March | 4:55 AM | 6:15 AM | 12:20 PM | 3:45 PM | 6:20 PM | 7:35 PM |
| April | 4:30 AM | 5:55 AM | 12:20 PM | 3:50 PM | 6:35 PM | 7:55 PM |
| May | 4:05 AM | 5:35 AM | 12:20 PM | 3:45 PM | 6:55 PM | 8:20 PM |
| June | 3:55 AM | 5:27 AM | 12:22 PM | 3:44 PM | 7:10 PM | 8:40 PM |
| July | 4:00 AM | 5:35 AM | 12:25 PM | 3:45 PM | 7:10 PM | 8:35 PM |
| August | 4:20 AM | 5:50 AM | 12:22 PM | 3:40 PM | 6:55 PM | 8:15 PM |
| September | 4:40 AM | 6:00 AM | 12:15 PM | 3:35 PM | 6:30 PM | 7:50 PM |
| October | 4:55 AM | 6:14 AM | 12:06 PM | 3:27 PM | 6:00 PM | 7:15 PM |
| November | 5:10 AM | 6:35 AM | 12:07 PM | 3:12 PM | 5:32 PM | 7:00 PM |
| December | 5:30 AM | 6:55 AM | 12:18 PM | 3:14 PM | 5:35 PM | 7:02 PM |
What the pattern tells you
- Dhuhr barely moves (12:05–12:25 all year) — solar noon is the most stable time
- Fajr swings the most — nearly two hours between June and December
- Maghrib tracks sunset — 5:30 PM in winter, 7:10 PM in summer
- Asr is counterintuitive — earliest in winter, latest in spring
- Isha follows Maghrib with roughly a 90-minute gap
The Calculation Method: How the Numbers Are Made
Prayer times are pure astronomy. For Sharjah (25.35° N, 55.42° E, UTC+4, no daylight saving):
- Fajr: sun 18° below horizon (Muslim World League) — true dawn
- Sunrise / Shurūq: actual astronomical sunrise — Fajr’s window ends here
- Dhuhr: just after solar noon
- Asr: shadow equals object’s length (standard; Hanafi uses twice, giving later Asr)
- Maghrib: astronomical sunset
- Isha: sun 17° below horizon — twilight fully gone
AWQAF applies small precautionary adjustments (a minute or two) — which is why the official timetable can differ slightly from international apps.
Why Sharjah Differs from Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- Longitude: Sharjah (55.42° E) is east of Dubai (55.27° E) — sun rises/sets ~2–3 min earlier
- Latitude: tiny differences shift Fajr/Isha marginally
- Local convention: each emirate publishes its own calendar from the same AWQAF base
Abu Dhabi runs about 8–10 minutes behind Sharjah. Never copy another emirate’s times.
Apps and Reminders That Follow the Timetable
- Set location to “Sharjah” — not Dubai — in any prayer app
- Calculation method: Muslim World League or Umm al-Qura matches UAE official times most closely
- Asr setting: Standard (not Hanafi) matches UAE mosques
- Adhan notifications: enable for Fajr and Maghrib at minimum
- Cross-check monthly against your mosque’s printed timetable
Reading a Timetable: Common Confusions
- “Shurūq” is not a prayer — it marks sunrise, when Fajr’s time ends
- Iqamah ≠ adhan: printed time is the adhan; congregation starts 10–20 min later
- Jummah isn’t on the daily timetable — Friday follows the unified 12:45 PM schedule
- Ramadan timetables add Suhoor/Iftar rows — see our Taraweeh guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get the official Sharjah prayer timetable?
Any Sharjah mosque (printed monthly), the AWQAF calendar, or a prayer app set to Sharjah with the Muslim World League method.
Why does Fajr change so much through the year?
From ~3:55 AM in June to ~5:30 AM in December — nearly two hours.
Why is my app 3 minutes different from the mosque?
Different calculation methods and AWQAF’s precautionary adjustments — 2–5 minutes is normal.
What calculation method does the UAE use?
AWQAF’s official calendar; MWL or Umm al-Qura methods come closest.
Are Sharjah and Dubai prayer times the same?
No — Sharjah is ~2–3 minutes earlier than Dubai; Abu Dhabi ~8–10 minutes behind.
What is the difference between adhan time and iqamah time?
The timetable shows adhan time; congregation (iqamah) starts 10–20 minutes later.
Which prayer time is most stable through the year?
Dhuhr — between 12:05 and 12:25 PM all year.
Do prayer times change during Ramadan?
The five prayers follow the same schedule; Ramadan adds Suhoor/Iftar rows and Taraweeh.
What is Shurūq on the timetable?
Sunrise — the end of Fajr’s window, not a prayer time.
How often should I update my prayer app settings?
Set once correctly (Sharjah, MWL, standard Asr); cross-check monthly.
For today’s exact times, see our Sharjah prayer time guide. Last updated: October 2026.
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